Time-recording watch

ABSTRACT

A watch case supports a rotatable disc rotatable every 12 or 24 hours. A pointer is provided driven concentrically with said disc every hour. A fixed reference member is provided to indicate the position of the disc. Numerals in the disc may be imprinted upon a sheet to show the relative position of the disc, pointer, and fixed reference number.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 139,154 5/1873 Hinchman 346/92 X 433,354 7/1890 Lochmann 346/142 X 945,154 1/1910 Ellis 346/142 3.041.613 6/1962 Allen 346/90 Primary Examiner-Joseph W. Hartary Anorney-Robert M. Dunning ABSTRACT: A watch case supports a rotatable disc rotatable every 12 or 24 hours. A pointer is provided driven concentrically with said disc every hour. A fixed reference member is provided to indicate the position of the disc. Numerals in the disc may be imprinted upon a sheet to show the relative position of the disc. pointer, and fixed reference number.

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TIME-RECORDING WATCH This invention relates to an improvement in time pocket watch and deals particularly with a watch which may be used to mark a certain time on a piece of paper or similar material.

Time clocks are well known in the art, and are commonly used to mark the time on a card or similar piece ofpaper to indicate the time when the time clock was operated. Many such devices include electrically driven clock mechanisms which are. designed to mark a predetermined time on the card or piece of paper, as for example, when a piece of mail is received, when an employee enters an establishment, or for various other uses.

Their are many times which exist when the use of a time clock of ordinary construction would be desirable but where no such clock is readily available. For example, typical time clocks are not portable. With this in mind, I have devised a watch which functions constantly in the same manner as an electric time clock, but which may be used to mark a predetermined time on the slip of paper such as a sales slip, a receipt, or other document. The device is arranged to mark the time on the paper, which can be checked by the persons involved, and which may be used to verify the time at which the paper was properly stamped.

It is a well-known fact that watches, as well as most clocks, include a sleeve which is rotated through an angled of 360 each hour, and through which a shaft extends. The one-twelfth shaft is normally designed to rotate through one complete revolution once every day, or which is designed to rotate at one of the speed of the sleeve. Through the use of this common mechanism which is well known in the art, a timer watch may be produced capable of marking the time on a piece of paper or the like.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a watch which contains the normal operating mechanism for rotating an hour hand once every 12 hours, and which includes a minute hand which rotates once every hour. However, in place of the normal hour hand, a rotatable disc is provided upon which is mounted a ring shaped pad of material capable of absorbing ink. The arrangement is such that when a piece of paper is pressed against this ring-shaped pad, the numerals on the pad are readily visible upon the paper.

In addition to the rotatable disc, a fixed pointer is provided which is designed to provide a zero point about which the hour hand is rotated. The fixed pointer is also provided with an ink absorbant surface which may provide a mark upon the surface of the paper indicating the location of the fixed point or pointer.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a device of the type described which includes a pointer which is mounted upon the shaft normally used to support the minute hand of a watch, This pointer is also covered with a surface of ink absorbant material so that when a piece of paper or similar material is pressed against the face of the watch, not only will the fixed location point be indicated, but also the position of the rotary ring which supports the numerals from one to twelve and the location of the rotatable finger which takes the place of the minute hand of the watch. Thus the time of the day including the hour and the minute can be determined relative to the fixed indicator point so that the time at which the paper is pressed against the dial of the watch may be readily visible.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a portable time pocket watch which may be used by service men, repair men and the like. For example, the time required to repair a television set in the home often is the subject matter of debate. As the hourly rate is considerable, the owner of the set often complains upon receiving a statement for the time involved. It has been shown that the use of a time clock will eliminate such complaints. When the service man enters the house, he stamps the time upon a charge slip. When the work is complete, the time is again stamped upon the charge slip showing precisely the time involved. Not only does this provide proof of the actual time required to complete the work for the benefit of the customer, but it also provides evidence to the employer of the service man, thus preventing the service man from charging customers for time used for coffee breaks and the like between repair jobs.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa time pocket watch showing the construction thereof.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view, showing the general arrangement of parts.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the watch in its stamping operation, the position of the section being indicated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

in view of the fact that pocket watches have been produced for a great number of years, the operating mechanism which drives the dial and pointer of the watch is not shown in detail. However, the watch includes an outer casing 10 which supports the drive spring, the escapement mechanism and the other necessary features in order to drive the watch. The spring of the watch is normally tightened by a winding stem 1 l which may also serve in the conventional manner for setting.

the time of the device.

The driving spring and gear mechanism within the watch case 10 serves to rotate a drive spindle which may comprise a sleeve 12 and which rotates at a speed of one rotation each 12 hours. The drive means of the watch may also serve to rotate a shaft 13 which is driven at the speed of one rotation per hour. As previously stated, the construction of watches is so well known in the art, that the winding spring and gear mechanism are not shown in the drawings.

The device sleeve 12 supports a disc 14 which is mounted in close proximity to the surface 15 of the watch casing 10. In view of the fact that external pressure is applied to the disc 14, it is usually desirable that the spacing between the disc 14 and the housing face 15 be at a minimum in order to prevent distortion of the drive sleeve 12 and to drive shaft 13.

A ring-shaped disc 16 is secured to the exposed face of the disc 15 and is adhered or otherwise secured thereto to rotate in unison therewith. The washer or ring-shaped member 16 is preferably formed of foam plastic or similar material which is capable of absorbing ink and retaining enough of the ink to print upon a sheet overlying the ring.

Numerals 17 which are normally from one to 12 are provided on the surface of the ring 16. The numerals 17 are normally raised from the surface of the disc, although they may be pressed together. Either the numerals l7 themselves may absorb ink form the ring-shaped pad 16, or alternatively, the pad itself may provide an inked surface which engages a sheet of paper or the like so as to outline the various numerals on the ring.

A fixed pointer 19 is provided on the watch case 10 externally of the ring 1 6 and the disc 14. This pointer 19 is preferably also provided with a surface 18 of ink absorbent material capable of producing an identification mark adjoining the external surface of the disc 16. In other words, the numerals l7 imprinted upon the ring 16 pass in sequence past the pointer 19 and provide an identification as to the position of the ring 16 relative to the pointer 19. An arm 20 is mounted on the shaft 13 which rotates 12 times as fast as the disc 14. The arm 20 is provided with an arrow-shaped ink-absorbing surface 22 or similar identifying means to indicate the position of the arm 20 relative to the disc. In other words, the disc 14 and ring 16 serve as a rotating dial for the watch, while the pointer 20 and its absorbent pad 22 serve as a minute hand, the position of which is readily indicated relative to the ring The watch A is provided with a peripheral flange 23 which is secured in face contact with a plate 24. In preferred form, the watch is mounted in an outer housing which is indicated in general by the numeral 25. The housing 25 includes a first rectangular tray-shaped section 26, and a second tray-shaped section 27. The section 26 include a generally rectangular baseplate 29 having peripheral walls 30 extending upwardly therefrom, and terminating on a common plane. A rectangular framelike flange 31 is secured to the upper surface of the walls 30. The plate 24 to which the clock mechanism is secured is hingedly connected by hinge means 32 to one wall of the housing section 26, and extends substantially flush with the frame like flange 31. The plate 24 bears against shoulders 33 inwardly of the framelike flange 31. The plate 24 bears against shoulders 33 inwardly of the framelike flange 31. A catch 34 is designed to normally hold the plate 24 confined within the section 26. However, the plate may be hinged upwardly when the catch 34 is released so that the time watch may be set and regulated.

The section 27 of the housing is generally similar to the section 26, including a base panel 35 and encircling wall panels 36, the walls being generally rectangularly arranged. A frame like flange 37 is secured to the marginal edges of the walls 36 which terminate on a common plane. The two sections 26 and 27 of the housing are hingedly connected as indicated at 39.

A catch 40 is provided for normally holding the housing sections 26 and 27 in edge abutting relation, with the framelike flanges 31 and 37 in face contact. When the catch 40 is released, the housing sections may be hinged into side by side relation as shown in FIG. 1, the ring 16, pointer 19, and arm 20 projecting from the section 26, the marking surfaces of these elements being on a substantially common plane.

ln operation, the watch is set in the conventional manner, so that the fixed pointer 19, the ring 16, and the rotatable arm 20 correspond in position to the time of day. In FIG. 1 of the drawings, the watch indicates lzOO. The clock mechanism rotates the rotatable arm within the the ring 16, the arm 20 completing one revolution each hour. During this time, the ring 16 will rotate one-twelfth of a rotation, or through an angle of Thus the position of the ring and rotatable pointer indicate the correct time ofday.

When the timer is to be used, the case is opened in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the structure is inverted as shown in FIG. 3, and the marking surface is pressed against a sale slip B or other suitable surface. The time of day is accordingly marked on the surface The same procedure is used at the completion of the repair work. As such work is normally only done in the presence of an occupant of the house, the times at which the slip is marked can be confirmed by the occupant. Once the slip has been marked with the time of starting and the time of finishing the operation, there can be no dispute about the time involved for the work.

It has been found that the time watch not only prevent disputes with the customer, but also that the device results in an increase in the work done by the service man. In one instance, it was found that the average number of service calls made by the service man increased as much as one call a day because of the fact that the time spent between calls was just as evident as the time spent in repair work. It was also found that customers watching the repair work often became very interested in what was taking place and did not realize how much time was spent in the repair work. Accordingly the device has been found to improve the relationship between the customer and the company employing the service man.

I claim:

1. A time indicator including;

a watch case including a watch drive mechanism,

a first hollow shaft means rotated by said watch mechanism and rotatable once every [2 hours or a multiple thereof,

a second drive shaft means coaxial with the first drive shaft means and rotatable once each hour,

a flat housing face supported by said watch case on a plane normal to the axes of said shafts,

a disc supported on said first shaft in closely spaced parallel relation thereto, an arm mounted on said second shaft engaging an end of said first hollow shaft and in closely spaced relation to said disc,

a ring of resilient plastic mounted on said disc concentric with said shafts,

angularly spaced numerals on the surface of said ring opposite that secured to said disc,

a block of resilient plastic material on said arm and having a surface extending in coplanar relation to said surface of said ring,

a first pointer indicator on said arm,

a block of resilient plastic material on said housing face adjoining the periphery of said disc and having a surface coplanar with said ring surface,

a second pointer indicator on said block,

said numerals, first and second pointer indicators being on a substantially common plane. 

1. A time indicator including; a watch case including a watch drive mechanism, a first hollow shaft means rotated by said watch mechanism and rotatable once every 12 hours or a multiple thereof, a second drive shaft means coaxial with the first drive shaft means and rotatable once each hour, a flat housing face supported by said watch case on a plane normal to the axes of said shafts, a disc supported on said first shaft in closely spaced parallel relation thereto, an arm mounted on said second shaft engaging an end of said first hollow shaft and in closely spaced relation to said disc, a ring of resilient plastic mounted on said disc concentric with said shafts, angularly spaced numerals on the surface of said ring opposite that secured to said disc, a block of resilient plastic material on said arm and having a surface extending in coplanar relation to said surface of said ring, a first pointer indicator on said arm, a block of resilient plastic material on said housing face adjoining the periphery of said disc and having a surface coplanar with said ring surface, a second pointer indicator on said block, said numerals, first and second pointer indicators being on a substantially common plane. 